Instructional Permits

Step 1.Proof of Social Security Number
If you need a Social Security card, visit: Social Security Administration

Step 2.Proof of Legal Presence

Step 3.Proof of Legal Name - If your current name is different from the name shown on any document (examples: due to marriage, divorce, adoption, name change, naturalization certificate), you are required to provide "connecting documents" to establish the link between the names.

Step 4.Proof of Date of Birth

Step 5.If the applicant is under eighteen (18) years of age: The person(s) who signed shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor applicant for any damages caused by such negligence or misconduct.

• Birth Certificate is required
• An Affidavit must be submitted in connection with the desire of the aforesaid child to secure a license to drive. This affidavit must be witnessed by a person authorized to administer oaths and must signed as follows:
  • If both the father and mother of the applicant have custody, both the father and mother must sign the affidavit.
  • If only one parent has custody of the applicant, that custodial parent must sign.
  • If neither parent has custody of the applicant and the applicant has a custodial guardian(s), all the custodial guardian(s) must sign.
  • If neither parent has custody of the applicant and the applicant has no custodial guardian(s), a responsible person who is willing to assume the obligation may sign.
• Drivers under 18 are required to take driving lessons from a driver's education program certified by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. If you are between 16 and 18 years old, and you want to be able to take the road test, you must have practiced driving on your learner's permit for 180 days and you must have earned a Driver Education Student Completion Certificate and a Behind the-Wheel Student Completion Certificate before you can schedule a road test.

Step 6.Proof of Principal Residence (Two Documents Required).

Step 7.Pass the required vision test.

Step 8.Pass a 25-question multiple choice written examination, please refer to Motorcycle Operator Manual.

Step 9.Payment of the appropriate fees. Refer to the Kauai County Fee Chart.(PDF, 12KB)

TEMPORARY INSTRUCTION PERMIT
You must have a motorcycle instruction permit when learning to operate a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter on the public highways. Such permit will be issued to you when you have satisfactorily completed the preliminary tests and have met all other requirements. You cannot carry passengers or operate a motorcycle during the hours of darkness while learning to ride under a permit. Your permit may be renewed if you have taken a skill test prior to the expiration of the motorcycle instruction permit. If your permit expires before you take a skill test at least once, you must wait three months before applying for another motorcycle instruction permit.

Step 1.Proof of Legal Name - If your current name is different from the name shown on any document (examples: due to marriage, divorce, adoption, name change, naturalization certificate), you are required to provide "connecting documents" to establish the link between the names.

Step 2.Proof of Legal Presence.

Step 3.Proof of Social Security Number. If you need a Social Security card, visit: Social Security Administration.

Step 4.Proof of Date of Birth.

Step 5.If the applicant is under eighteen (18) years of age:

• Birth Certificate is required
• An Affidavit(PDF, 77KB) must be submitted in connection with the desire of the aforesaid child to secure a license to drive. This affidavit must be witnessed by a person authorized to administer oaths and must signed as follows:
  • If both the father and mother of the applicant have custody, both the father and mother must sign the affidavit.
  • If only one parent has custody of the applicant, that custodial parent must sign.
  • If neither parent has custody of the applicant and the applicant has a custodial guardian(s), all the custodial guardian(s) must sign.
  • If neither parent has custody of the applicant and the applicant has no custodial guardian(s), a responsible person who is willing to assume the obligation may sign. The person(s) who signed shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor applicant for any damages caused by such negligence or misconduct.

Step 6.Proof of Principal Residence (Two Documents Required).

Step 7.Pass the required vision test.

Step 8.Pass a 30 question multiple choice written General Driving Test Questions, please refer to the Hawaii Drivers Manual. If you obtain more than 6 errors, you will fail the examination and will be required to wait seven days before you are eligible to retake the examination. The appropriate examination fee will be collected before the test is administered. Failure to pass the examination shall not be grounds for a refund. Please refer to Kauai DMV for hours of exam issuance.

Step 9.Payment of the appropriate fees. Refer to the Kauai County Fee Chart(DOCX, 22KB).

Hawaii Graduated Driver Licensing (GLD) Program

If you are younger than 18 years old and are applying for your first driver's license, you'll need to satisfy the requirements of the Hawaii graduated driver licensing program.

The Hawaii GDL program is divided into the following phases:

• Instruction permit, which allows:
  • Supervised driving with a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.
  • Supervised driving with your parent/guardian at any time.
• Provisional driver's license, which allows:
  • No more than 1 passenger younger than 18 years old, unless he or she is a family member.
  • Unsupervised driving between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.
  • Driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. with a parent/guardian, OR when traveling to or from work/school with a signed statement.
• Unrestricted driver's license.

Hawaii Learner's Permit

The first steps of the Hawaii GDL program when you are least 15 1/2 years old by obtaining your learner's permit and completing Driver's Ed.

For more information on the Hawaii driver's education requirement, please see our Driver's Ed in Hawaii page. To apply for your HI learner's permit, you'll need to Book Your Appointment at the DMV office with your parent(s)/guardian(s) and:

• Complete a Driver's License Application(PDF, 365KB)
• Provide proof of the following REAL ID Compliant Document List
• Pass a vision exam.
• Pass the Hawaii Drivers Manual
• Pay the Kauai County Fee Chart(DOCX, 22KB).

You must hold your learner's permit for at least 180 days and complete HI driver's education before moving on to the next steps of the GDL program.

Learner's Permit Driving Restrictions

With your learner's permit, you can:

• Drive with a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.
• Drive with your parent/guardian at any time.

Hawaii Provisional Driver's License

You will be eligible for a provisional driver's license once you:

• Are at least 16 years old.
• Have held your learner's permit for at least 180 days.
• Have completed driver's education.

To obtain your provisional driver's license, you'll need to schedule and pass a driving test.

To take your DMV road test and earn your provisional license, you'll need to:

• Meet the Class 3 Road Test Vehicle Requirements
• current registration.
• safety inspection.
• proof of insurance documents.
• Be accompanied by a licensed adult (21 yrs. or older)
• Provide your valid Hawaii learner's permit.
• Pay the Kauai County Fee Chart(DOCX, 22KB).

You must hold your provisional driver's license for at least 6 months before moving on to obtain your unrestricted driver's license.

Provisional License Driving Restrictions

Your provisional driver's license allows you to drive:

• With no more than 1 passenger younger than 18 years old, unless he or she is a family member.
• Unsupervised between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.
• Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. with a parent/guardian OR when traveling to or from work/school. You must have a statement signed by your parent/guardian or employer.

Full Unrestricted Hawaii Driver's License

Once you are at least 17 years old and have held your provisional license for at least 6 months, you can upgrade to an unrestricted driver's license.

• Provide your provisional license.
• Pay the driver license fee. Fees may vary by county.

Step 1.Proof of Legal Name - If your current name is different from the name shown on any document (examples: due to marriage, divorce, adoption, name change, naturalization certificate), you are required to provide "connecting documents" to establish the link between the names.

Step 2.Provide proof of Legal Presence.

Step 3.Provide proof of Principal Residence (Two Documents Required).

Step 4.Be of 21 Years of Age or Older.

Step 5.Possess a Valid Class 3 Hawaii Driver's License.

Step 6.Pass the required vision test.

Step 7.Submit a Department of Transportation (DOT) Medical Certification.

Search the Nearest Certified Medical Examiner (PUC Examniers)

Payment of the appropriate fee. Refer to the Kauai County Fee Chart...(DOCX, 22KB)

Step 1.1. Proof of Legal Name - If your current name is different from the name shown on any document (examples: due to marriage, divorce, adoption, name change, naturalization certificate), you are required to provide "connecting documents" to establish the link between the names.

Step 2.2. Provide proof of Legal Presence.

Step 3.3. Provide proof of Principal Residence.

Step 4.4. Complete a Commercial Driver’s License Application that is also available at our Kauai DMV.

Step 5.5. Be 19 Years of Age or Older. Note: applicant’s must be 21 years or older to apply and test for a CDL road test.

Step 6.6. Possess a Valid Class 3 Hawaii Driver’s License.

Step 7.7. Submit a completed Department of Transportation (DOT) Medical Certification.

Step 8.8. Pass required knowledge tests, please refer to the Commercial Driver’s License Manual.

Step 9.9. Pass the required vision test. 9. Submit proof of Hawaii Residency.

Step 10.10. Payment of the appropriate fees. Refer to the Kauai County Fee Chart.